Cost of Living Comparison Between Valparaiso and Elk Cost of Living Comparison Between Valparaiso and Elk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,095 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,273 in Elk, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,625 per month in Valparaiso vs $1,934 in Elk, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,154 per month in Valparaiso vs $2,596 in Elk, rent included.

Valparaiso is about 14% cheaper than Elk, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Valparaiso and Elk are more affordable than the global median – Valparaiso 20% lower, Elk 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 CLP 8,718

$9.18 zł 34.90

-0.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.21 CLP 34.5K

$43.13 zł 164

-16.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 CLP 8,443

$7.92 zł 30.14

11.74%

Cappuccino

$2.73 CLP 2,607

$3.21 zł 12.22

-14.95%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 CLP 1,141

$1.97 zł 7.48

-39.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 CLP 808

$1.70 zł 6.47

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.16 CLP 3,967

$2.62 zł 9.95

58.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 CLP 4,363

$4.03 zł 15.32

13.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 CLP 1,253

$1.03 zł 3.90

27.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.74 CLP 1,661

$1.27 zł 4.84

37.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,518

$1.68 zł 6.37

-5.36%

Eggs

$4.19 CLP 3,997

$2.49 zł 9.48

68.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 CLP 10.9K

$4.68 zł 17.79

143.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.81 CLP 6,494

$6.29 zł 23.93

8.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.99 CLP 8,580

$14.50 zł 55.1

-38.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.65 CLP 1,577

$1.11 zł 4.21

48.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 CLP 1,530

$1.66 zł 6.33

-3.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 CLP 1,462

$1.64 zł 6.23

-6.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 CLP 1,413

$3.46 zł 13.15

-57.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 CLP 959

$0.92 zł 3.49

8.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 CLP 1,211

$1.47 zł 5.60

-13.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 CLP 1,117

$1.58 zł 6.01

-25.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 CLP 1,100

$0.55 zł 2.09

109.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 CLP 4,247

$4.74 zł 18.03

-6.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.08 CLP 4,851

$7.47 zł 28.42

-31.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 CLP 1,307

$1.32 zł 5.01

3.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 CLP 1,678

$1.34 zł 5.11

31.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 CLP 704

$0.76 zł 2.90

-2.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.0 CLP 50.5K

$22.32 zł 84.9

137.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.40 CLP 381

$2.18 zł 8.30

-81.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 CLP 866

$0.56 zł 2.11

62.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 CLP 3,390

$6.57 zł 24.97

-45.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 CLP 1,433

$1.54 zł 5.86

-2.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$14.7K CLP 14.0M

$32.0K zł 121.5K

-54.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.7K CLP 18.8M

$28.4K zł 108.2K

-30.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$119 CLP 113.7K

$196 zł 744

-39.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.97 CLP 11.4K

$7.04 zł 26.77

70.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.78 CLP 18.9K

$14.07 zł 53.5

40.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.10 CLP 24.0K

$30.72 zł 117

-18.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$23.47 CLP 22.4K

$36.68 zł 139

-36.01%

Cinema Ticket

$7.34 CLP 7,007

$6.84 zł 26.03

7.31%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$450 CLP 429.5K

$316 zł 1,203

42.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K CLP 10.4M

$5,392 zł 20.5K

102.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.80 CLP 31.3K

$88.9 zł 338

-63.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 CLP 27.9K

$26.70 zł 102

9.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.9 CLP 53.3K

$86.7 zł 329

-35.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.95 CLP 47.7K

$121 zł 459

-58.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$467 CLP 445.4K

$541 zł 2,058

-13.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 CLP 371.2K

$470 zł 1,787

-17.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$681 CLP 649.6K

$942 zł 3,583

-27.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 CLP 528.3K

$826 zł 3,140

-32.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,567 CLP 1.5M

$2,294 zł 8,724

-31.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,050 CLP 1.0M

$1,994 zł 7,583

-47.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$766 CLP 730.9K

$1,265 zł 4,810

-39.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

6.21

-13.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Valparaiso: September 14, 2026

Last update for Elk: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $467 in Valparaiso versus $541 in Elk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 65% higher in Elk, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Valparaiso versus $43.00 in Elk. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Valparaiso vs $211 in Elk – so Elk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Valparaiso vs Elk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Elk is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,643 per month in Valparaiso and $1,909 in Elk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Valparaiso, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Elk – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Valparaiso and $43.00 in Elk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Valparaiso, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in Elk at $1,273. In Valparaiso it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elk it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Valparaiso – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Valparaiso. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elk makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.